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Living Building Challenge

OVERVIEW

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is widely considered the most stringent green building standard in the world. LBC, run by the International Living Future Institute, attempts to emulate a flower by encouraging net-zero or net-positive impact on virtually everything the built environment touches. Its requirements are categorized under seven petals:

Place

Water

Energy

Health

Materials

Equity

Beauty

Through detailed “imperatives,” LBC leaves little wiggle room. Everything is a prerequisite, unlike in LEED, where project teams can choose among credits.

Here we have collected strategies, case studies, and expert commentary on how to achieve LBC certification in the real world.